Action underway at 2009 US Club National Championships

STEVENS POINT, Wis. (March 9, 2009) - The 2009 U.S. Club National Championships kicked off Sunday at the Utica Curling Club in Whitesboro, N.Y.

The U.S. Club Nationals is a national championship for teams who've played all season together in leagues. Ten men's and 10 women's teams qualified through regional playdowns to this week's competition.

Leading the way on the men's side with 2-0 records are teams skipped by Jeff Wright (Libertyville, Ill.) of Team Illinois, Mark Willmert (Minneapolis) of Team Minnesota, Doug Kauffman (Lynnwood, Wash.) of Team Washington, and Mike Fraboni (McFarland, Wis.) of Team Wisconsin.

On the women's side, defending champion Norma O'Leary (Silver Bay, Minn.) has her team at 2-0 along with teams skipped by Tracy Lawless (Hawthorn Woods, Ill.) of Team Illinois, and Matina Heisler (Falmouth, Mass.) of Team Massachusetts.

This is the fifth year that the Club National Championships are being played. This event does not lead to a world championship but is used as a stepping stone to help develop athletes towards future national championships.